Freedom camping changes

7 June 2023 / Act in force

• Only vehicles that have a fixed toilet can be certified self-contained under the existing requirements (blue warrants). 7 June 2023 – 7 June 2024.
• Vehicles with a portable toilet that are already certified as self-contained can still freedom camp. 7 June 2023 – warrant expiry or 7 June 2025, depending which comes first. These dates vary for rental vehicles.

Mid-July 2023

• New tiered infringement penalties in place before FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

7 December 2023 / 6 months after Act in force

• Vehicles can be certified self-contained under the new requirements (green warrants). These warrants will remain valid for 4 years after certification.
• People/organisations can apply to the PGDB to become certification authorities.
• The register of self-contained vehicles is set up to verify whether a vehicle is self-contained under the new requirements.

7 June 2024 / 12 months after Act in force

• Self-containment certification can only be done by certification authorities under the new requirements (green warrants).

7 December 2024 / 18 months after Act in force

• Rental vehicles must be certified under the new requirements and display their green warrant as evidence of self-containment.

7 June 2025 / 24 months after Act in force

• All vehicles must be certified under the new requirements and display their green warrant as evidence of self-containment.

I am seeking a new self-containment certification for my vehicle

A transition period will enable the existing self-containment certification requirements, known as a blue warrant, to be phased out and eventually replaced with the new requirements, known as a green warrant.

From 7 June 2025, all vehicles will need to be certified with a green warrant to be certified self-contained under the new requirements.

Regulations set out new self-containment requirements (Standards). These standards cover a vehicle’s:

• water supply system
• fixed toilet, which includes chemical and waterless toilets
• wastewater system
• systems to load freshwater and unload wastewater
• ventilation system
• secure rubbish storage.

The Standards are performance-based, which provides for flexibility in meeting the requirements, particularly compared with the prescriptive requirements in the voluntary standard.

The Regulations also prescribe a levy of $120 dollars that vehicle owners will have to pay each time their vehicle is certified or recertified. The levy covers the cost of regulating the new self-containment certification system.

Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers (Self-Contained Vehicles) Regulations 2023(external link) — New Zealand Legislation

More information on what is needed to certify your vehicle, and where to go to get certified, is available on the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board website:

Self-contained vehicles(external link) — Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board

My vehicle is already certified self-contained with a blue warrant

You can still freedom camp even if your vehicle has a portable toilet, as you were certified as self-contained before 7 June 2024.

Freedom camping on local authority land is allowed (unless it is specifically prohibited) until your blue warrant expires, or 7 June 2025 (whichever happens sooner).

If you seek certification after 7 June 2024 to freedom camp on most local authority, Department of Conservation, or LINZ land, you must be certified with a green warrant (for example, under the new requirements).

MBIE has published advice for local authorities and will work closely with them to support implementation of the Act. You can download the local authority guidance here:

Local government guidance [PDF, 649KB](external link)

We encourage local authorities to be mindful that it may take time for the public to become familiar with the new rules when considering issuing infringements or fines. Local authorities can download a flyer that summarises the key changes for freedom campers here:

Freedom camping changes flyer [PDF, 344KB](external link)

A national register of self-contained vehicles is hosted by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. The register enables local authorities to verify whether a vehicle is certified as self-contained under the new requirements. 

Information that prospective certification authorities must provide to the Board have been made in Regulations. As has the criteria the PGDB will use to assess applications from certification authorities. These Regulations also set a fee of $375 plus GST that applicants from prospective certification authorities must pay the Board to cover their assessment costs.

Regulations also set out competency requirements for vehicle inspectors. Certification authorities will need to be satisfied that a person meets competency requirements before they appoint them as vehicle inspector.

Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers (Self-Contained Vehicles) Regulations 2023(external link) — New Zealand Legislation

The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board has more information for prospective certification authorities on its website.

Self-contained vehicles(external link) — Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board